William Sinton FitzGerald, Sr. (October 6, 1880 – October 3, 1937) was an American politician of the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

who served as the 39th mayor of Cleveland, Ohio.

Life and career

FitzGerald was born in Washington, D.C. to an Irish family. He received public education and attended George Washington University, graduating with a Master of Laws degree in 1903. The following year, he moved to Cleveland, was admitted to the Ohio State Bar Association, and began practicing law. In 1911, he entered politics and was elected as a Republican city councilman for Ward 11, serving two terms. Under Mayor

Harry L. Davis Harry Lyman Davis (January 25, 1878 – May 21, 1950) was an American politician of the Republican Party. He served as the 38th and 44th mayor of Cleveland, Ohio and as the 49th governor of Ohio. Life and career Davis was born in Cleveland, Oh ...

, FitzGerald was appointed law director. When Davis resigned in 1920 to campaign for the Ohio governorship, FitzGerald became mayor for a brief period in 1920-21. His most notable achievement as mayor was his successful fight, in cooperation with Cleveland City Council and Councilman Jacob Stacel, to prevent the

Ku Klux Klan The Ku Klux Klan (), commonly shortened to the KKK or the Klan, is an American white supremacist, right-wing terrorist, and hate group whose primary targets are African Americans, Jews, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and ...

from establishing a presence in the city. In the 1921 mayoral election, FitzGerald was defeated by former Cleveland Police chief Fred Kohler. He subsequently returned to private practice.

Personal life

FitzGerald was a bachelor when he became mayor. He married Margaret Chilton Tucker of Chicago, Illinois, on January 14, 1920. He had met her while on a business trip to Washington, D.C., and courted her whenever he visited the city. Fitzgerald kept his marriage a secret from the public until August 27, 1921. The couple had a son, William Sinton FitzGerald, Jr. The FitzGeralds divorced in 1922. The birth of their son was kept secret from the public until his existence was revealed in the divorce proceedings. FitzGerald then married Carolina Granger of Cleveland on March 23, 1933.

Death

FitzGerald died unexpectedly of a heart attack at his home in the Cleveland suburb of North Royalton, at 5:25 AM on October 3, 1937. His place of burial may not be known.

References

External links

William Sinton Fitzgerald entry
at The Political Graveyard 1880 births 1937 deaths Cleveland City Council members George Washington University Law School alumni Mayors of Cleveland Ohio lawyers Ohio Republicans American people of Irish descent 20th-century American politicians Politicians from Washington, D.C. {{Ohio-mayor-stub